Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Errors of medication in a University Hospital: type, causes, suggestions and actions

This exploratory study (survey) has analyzed the errors of medication in a university hospital on the basis of 40 interviews conducted with professionals of the medication system. The results showed that the most frequent types of errors occur in drug prescription (29.04%); individual flaws are considered the main cause of errors (47.37%) and the main flaws in the medication system (26.98%); changes in individual attitudes are suggested as a way to avoid errors (28.26%); guidance is the most utilized administrative action (25%). The conclusion is that there is no systemic awareness among professionals regarding errors, putting the blame on the human being. This culture must be altered and transformed into improvements for the system.

errors of medication; hospital medication systems; hospital administration


Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem SGA Norte Quadra 603 Conj. "B" - Av. L2 Norte 70830-102 Brasília, DF, Brasil, Tel.: (55 61) 3226-0653, Fax: (55 61) 3225-4473 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
E-mail: reben@abennacional.org.br